Gutenberg Bible Information
Arranged Alphabetically by Country
The height of Gutenberg’s art of printing is considered to be the 42-line bible (B42). The 2-volume bible with a total of 1,282 pages was created with the help of a staff of 20. For this bible, Gutenberg cast 290 different shapes. The colorful initials and signs were added later by an illuminator and a columnist. Of the 180 copies, it is assumed that 150 were printed on paper, while the remaining 30 were printed on exquisite parchment.
Today, 48 copies remain in existence. Of these, two are owned by the Gutenberg museum. With this bible, that remains until today one of the most beautifully printed books of the world, Gutenberg proved that the "nova forma scribendi" was esthetically equal to hand-writings that were at their height at that time. The development of the art of printing brought about a major change in the world of writing. The spread of knowledge and scientific discoveries promoted scientific development and became a milestone in the historical progress towards modern times.
Austria 1 Copy
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek
Vienna Austria
1 copy
Hubay #27
Perfect Copy on Paper , 2 volumes
Bound in red morocco.
Acquired early 19th Century, and formerly in the Court Library of Emperor Joseph II. One of only two copies to contain the "tabula rubricarum" (index of rubrics) on four leaves at the end. See Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich.
Belgium 1 Copy Nouvelle Bibliothèque Publique Les Comtes de Haina
Mons, Belgium
1 copy
Hubay #1
Imperfect copy on paper, Volume 1 only. Lacks 104 leaves.
Bound in brown calfskin, blind-stamped front and back covers; five raised bands on spine.
Willed to the City of Mons in 1934 by Canon Edmond Puissant. Discovered in the Puissant Museum in Mons by Dr. Maurice A. Arnould, who became the Mons Librarian in 1950. The Antiquarian Bookman of October 20, 1956 announced this previously unrecorded copy as the 47th known Gutenberg to be discovered.
Denmark 1 Copy The Royal Library
Copenhagen Denmark
1 copy
Hubay #12
Imperfect copy on paper, Vol II only. Lacks the first leaf.
Bound in 17th Century calf, with the device of the Gottorp Library.
Acquired in 1749.
France 4 Copies Bibliotheque Nationale
Paris France
2 copies
Perfect copy on vellum, 2 volumes.
Formerly bound in contemporary leather over wooden boards. Around 1788 it was rebound in red morocco, with the arms of Louis XVI stamped in gilt, in four volumes.
Acquired from Dupre de Geneste of Mainz.
Hubay #15
Imperfect copy on paper, 149 leaves lacking.
Unbound. Preserved in two red morocco slipcases. Contains the earliest recorded date associated with the Gutenberg Bible. At the end of both volumes are notes inscribed by the rubricator and binder, Henricus Cremer: [Vol I...24 Aug 1456; Vol II...15 Aug 1456]
Hubay #17
Bibliotheque Mazarine
Paris France
1 copy
Hubay #16
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in 18th Century red morocco, attributed to Padeloup.
First recorded in the Mazarin Library by bibliographer Francois Guillaume de Bure in 1763. The term Mazarin Bible was applied to all copies of the 42-line Bible, after the publicity attained upon de Bure's discovery.
Bibliothèque de St-Omer
Saint-Omer France
1 copy
Hubay #18
Imperfect copy on paper, Volume I, only, lacking one leaf.
Bound in early 18th century calf.
Acquired by the Saint-Omer City Library from the Abbey of St. Bertin.
Germany 12 Copies The Historical Library Building
Historisches Gebaeude
Goettingen Germany
1 copy
Hubay #2
Perfect copy on vellum, 2 volumes.
Bound in 16th Century white calf over wooden boards.
Acquired by the University Library of Goettingen in about 1810 from Wolfenbuettel Library.
Berlin State Library
Berlin Germany
1 copy
Hubay #3
Imperfect copy on vellum, 2 leaves lacking. 2 volumes.
Bound in 17th century calf.
Its presence in Berlin can be traced to 1752, but no information as to how the state acquired it.
Hochschulde und Landesbibliothek
Fulda Germany
1 copy
Hubay #4
Imperfect copy on vellum, Volume II only.
Bound in contemporary dark brown leather.
Given to Prince-Abbot Konstantin by the City of Fulda in 1723, but later returned to the State Library.
Leipzig University Library
Leipzig Germany
1 copy
Hubay #14
Imperfect copy on vellum, lacking one leaf, 4 volumes.
Bound in contemporary stamped pigskin, by Johann Fogel Erfurt.
Known to belong to the Franciscan monastery, Langensalza, Saxony in 1461. Unknown date of acquisition by University Library of Leipzig.
University Library Frankfurt am Main
Frankfurt am Main Germany
1 copy
Hubay #6
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Rebound before 1950 in half vellum, gilt, with eagle of Frankfurt.
Acquired by Frankfurt City Library in 1803 from the Church of the College of St. Leonhard in Frankfurt.
Bound in 18th century calf. Has the tabula rubricarum (index of rubrics) printed on 4 leaves at the end. Occurs in only one other copy at the National Bibliothek, Vienna.
Acquired in 1803 from the Benedictine Monastery at Andechs, near Munich.
Stadtbibliothek or Hofbibliothek
Aschaffenburg Germany
1 copy
Hubay #7
Imperfect copy on paper, lacking 14 leaves, 2 volumes.
Bound in contemporary wooden boards, recovered with sheepskin.
Acquired by the Palace of Aschaffenburg in 1793 from the library of Friedrich Karl Joseph von Erthal, Elector of Mainz. Now in Hofbibliothek.
Gutenberg Museum
Mainz Germany
2 copies
Imperfect copy on paper, Volume II only.
Bound in early 16th century stamped leather.
Acquired by the Mainz City Library in 1925 from the library of the Count of Solms-Laubach. Solms-Laubach copy still possessed by the Museum.
Hubay #8 or 9
Paper copy, known as the Shuckburgh copy, 2 volumes.
Acquired for $1.8 million in March, 1978; formerly owned by Arthur Houghton.
Hubay #8 or 9
Trier City Library
Trier Germany
1 copy
Hubay #11
Imperfect copy on paper, Volume I, only.
Bound in early 19th century calf.
Acquired by the Trier City Library in 1803 from a nearby Benedictine Monastery. Its sister volume (II) was purchased by an agent for Arthur A. Houghton of Queenstown, Maryland in 1937, at a Sotheby's auction in London. Cost: 8,000 pounds.
Bound in 19th century blue Morocco, gilt tooled. Leaf 111 of Vol II is a pen-and-ink facsimile. Sometime after 1950 this copy became the recipient of leaf 111 from the Trier-Houghton copy acquired by Scribner's, and thus became the first incomplete copy to be made complete.
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Formerly owned by NY General Theological Seminary. Acquired at Christie's Auction, April, 1978. Buyer: Bernard Breslauer. Cost: $2.2 million.
Japan 1 Copy Keio University Library
Mita Campus
Minato-ku, Tokyo
1 copy
Hubay #45
Imperfect copy on paper, previously known as The Frere-Doheny Copy,
Volume. 1 only, 324 leaves.
Bound in contemporary calf over wooden boards.
Acquired on March 22, 1996 from the Maruzen Co. of Tokyo. Maruzen had purchased the copy at a Christie's Auction on Oct 22, 1987 for the incredible sum of $4.9 million (see ABPC). Sold at Christie's on October 22, 1987 for $4.9 million, to the Maruzen Co. of Tokyo, Japan. Acquired by Keio University Library, Tokyo, Japan on March 22, 1996.Previously owned by the Doheny Memorial Library, California, and prior to that by Sir Philip Frere of the UK.
Bound in contemporary stamped leather over wooden boards by Heinrich Coster.
Acquired by Pelplin in 1833 from the Benedictine Monastery of Loebau, West Prussia.
Portugal 1 Copy Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal
Lisbon Portugal
1 copy
Hubay #29
Perfect paper copy, 2 volumes.
Bound 1860 in red morocco with royal arms of Portugal, gilt gauffered edges. Formerly in green morocco by Derome.
Acquired 1805 from Borel & Co. Booksellers of Lisbon. Formerly owned by Cardinal Lomeine de Brienne.
Russia 2 Copies Lomonosow University Library
Moscow Russia
1 copy
No Hubay #
Paper copy, 2 volumes, known as the Leipzig copy.
Confiscated by the Soviet Army from Leipzig's. Universitaetsbibliothek toward the end of WWII. The USSR denied knowledge of its whereabouts.
Russian National Library
Moscow Russia
1 copy
No Hubay #
Imperfect copy on vellum
Confiscated by Soviet Army from Leipzig’s- Deutsches Museum fuer Buch und Schrift during WW II. For years, as in the case of the Lomonosow Library copy, the USSR kept silent, denied knowledge of its whereabouts.
Bound in 16th century stamped leather over wooden boards.
Acquired from a Spanish Monastery in 1870. (Note: In 1957-58 investigation and personal inspection by bible scholar and historian Don Cleveland Norman in preparation for his 1961 Gutenberg Census publication, revealed 11 leaves missing.)
Imperfect copy on paper, 2 volumes, 1 leaf lacking.
Bound in 19th century leather binding.
Sold in 1931 by the Soviet government to Maggs Brothers of London and acquired from them by Martin Bodmer Library.
United Kingdom 8 Copies British Museum
London England
2 copies
Perfect copy on vellum, 2 volumes
Rebound about 1769 in red morocco. Originally in 3 vols.
Bequeathed to the British Museum in 1846 by Thomas Grenville.
Hubay #?
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound for King George III in blue morocco.
Transferred to British Museum in 1829.
Hubay #?
Lambeth Palace Library
London
1 copy
Hubay #20
Imperfect copy on vellum, New Testament only, 190 leaves.
Bound in brown morocco, mid-1880's.
Acquired by the Archepiscopal Library in 1610 from Archbishop Bancroft.
University Library
Cambridge England
1 copy
Hubay #22
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in calf. Gifted in 1934.
Formerly owned by A.W. Young of London who bought it from Bernard Quaritch. Quaritch bought it for 2,000 pounds in 1889 from the library of Lord Hopetoun.
Eton College Library
Windsor Berkshire England
1 copy
Hubay #23
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in contemporary pigskin over wooden boards. Blind-stamped by Johann Fogel of Erfurt...the only copy in a binding by Fogel which bears his name stamped in blind on the covers.
John Fuller of Rosehill, Sussex presented this copy to Eton in 1841.
Bodelian Library
Oxford England
1 copy
Hubay #24
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in blue morocco, gilt-tooled by Derome le Jeune with his label, dated 1785.
Purchased by Oxford in 1793 for 100 pounds, from the library of Cardinal Lomenie de Brienne.
John Rylans Library
Manchester England
1 copy
Hubay #25
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in blue morocco, gilt-tooled with the arms of Lord Spencer, stamped in blind. Binding attributed to Roger Payne.
Purchased by Spencer in 1814 for 80 pounds. In 1892 the Rylands Library acquired the Spencer Library.
National Library of Edinburgh
Edinburgh Scotland
1 copy
Hubay #26
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in russia leather, gilt tooled. Modern Scotch binding.
Presented to the library in 1781 by Daniel Stewart, Lord Provost of Edinburgh.
United States 11 Copies The Morgan Library And Museum
New York, NY
3 copies
Imperfect copy on vellum, 2 volumes, missing 4 leaves.
Bound in brown morocco.
Sold by Edwin Tross in 1864 for 15,000 francs to an English book collector. Bought by J.P. Morgan in 1897 from Henry Sotheran of London.
Hubay #37
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in blue morocco.
Bought by Quartich for the Morgan collection in 1911 for 5,800 pounds.
Hubay #38
Imperfect copies on paper
2 vols. 130 leaves lacking. Rebound by Matthews in dark brown morocco.
Purchased by J. P. Morgan in 1899 from the Theodore Irwin library, Oswego, NY. Ownership can be traced back as far as 1565.
Hubay #44
The Library of Congress
Washington, DC
1 copy
Hubay #35
Perfect copy on vellum, known as the "Saint Blasius - Saint Paul” copy, only 3-volume copy in existence.
Bound in white calf, stamped in blind, and dated 1560. The finest copy in existence, according to the International Typographical Union.
Originally from the St. Paul Monastery, Austria, Vollbehr paid $370,000. Purchased by the LOC in 1930 as part of the Vollbehr Collection (Berlin) of 15th Century printing. 1930 cost of Vollbehr collection - $1,500,000
Cost of this copy exceeded $600,000 alone.
New York Public Library
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
New York, NY
1 copy
Hubay #42
Imperfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in old blue morocco.
First copy to come to America (1847), after purchase at a Sotheby's auction for James Lenox of New York. Newspapers of the day called the price of 500 British Pounds Sterling, "mad."
Houghton/Widener Library
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
1 copy
Hubay #40
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in red morocco by Mercier.
Presented to Harvard in 1944 by George D. Widener. It's another copy that went through Rosenbach's hands at one point.
Yale University
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
New Haven, CT
1 copy
Hubay #41
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in 18th century calf, gilt tooled.
Bought at auction in 1926 by Dr. A.S. W. Rosenbach for $106,000. Sold to Mrs. Edward Harkness who presented it to Yale University in memory of Mrs. Stephen V. Harkness.
Princeton University Library
Princeton, New Jersey
1 copy
Hubay #43
Imperfect copy on paper, 2 volumes, lacking 5 leaves.
Bound in contemporary blind-stamped leather over wooden boards.
The second copy to come to the U.S. Since 1870, it has changed hands of American owners several times. Bought by A.S.W. Rosenbach in 1924 and subsequently sold to John Schiede. From 1934-37 he found and bought 12 of 17 missing leaves.
The Lilly Library
Bloomington, Indiana
1 copy
Hubay #46
Imperfect copy on paper, known as the "Trier" copy, Volume II only, 260 of 317 leaves. This is the sister volume of the Trier copy.
Bound in brown calf over wooden boards.
Houghton gave this copy to Scribner's who sold some leaves and sections. See the NY- General Theological Seminary entry. Scribner's sold the Tirer copy to George A. Poole of Chicago. In 1953, what remained was rebound for Poole and in 1958 the volume was acquired by the Lilly Library, University of Indiana.
The Gutenberg Museum 2000 census of extant copies does not acknowledge Lilly's ownership. In August 2000 I was informed by James Canary, Lilly Library's Conservator, that his library still holds this copy; a recently purchased leaf has reduced the number of missing leaves to 11.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
San Marino, CA
1 copy
Hubay #36
Imperfect copy on vellum, 2 volumes.
Bound in contemporary pigskin over wooden boards.
Acquired by Henry E. Huntington in 1911 for $50,000 - at that time the highest price ever paid for a book. Had numerous 19th century owners and can be traced back as far as 1774.
Harry Ransom Center
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas
1 copy
Hubay #39
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in contemporary stamped leather over wooden boards.
Bought by A.S.W. Rosenbach in 1923 at a Sotheby's auction for 9,500 pounds and sold to Mr. Pforzheimer, a great book collector and bibliophile. The Ransom Center Bible is one of only five complete copies in the United States and was acquired in 1978. Out of 48 surviving copies in the world, only 23 are complete Bibles from Gutenberg's estimated printing of 150 - 180 sets. Most of the Bibles are in Europe, one is in Japan, and another is in Moscow.
Vatican City 2 Copies Vatican Library
Vatican City
2 copies
Hubay #33
Imperfect copy on vellum, 2 volumes, 6 leaves lacking.
Bound in modern leather, blind-tooled.
Acquired by the Vatican in 1901 from the Barberini Library, which had owned it since 1837.
Vatican Library
Vatican City
2 copies
Hubay #34
Imperfect copy on paper, Volume I only, missing 9 leaves.
Bound circa 1850 in russia leather.
Acquired by the Vatican in 1921 from the library of Cavaliere Giovanni Francesco de Rossi, of Linz, near Vienna.
(Note: 1950 AB census identified this as Volume I, presumably the Old Testament. The 1957-58 census and subsequent publication by Don Cleveland Norman identifies this as Volume II, which is generally the New Testament designation.)
Arranged Alphabetically by Country
The height of Gutenberg’s art of printing is considered to be the 42-line bible (B42). The 2-volume bible with a total of 1,282 pages was created with the help of a staff of 20. For this bible, Gutenberg cast 290 different shapes. The colorful initials and signs were added later by an illuminator and a columnist. Of the 180 copies, it is assumed that 150 were printed on paper, while the remaining 30 were printed on exquisite parchment.
Today, 48 copies remain in existence. Of these, two are owned by the Gutenberg museum. With this bible, that remains until today one of the most beautifully printed books of the world, Gutenberg proved that the "nova forma scribendi" was esthetically equal to hand-writings that were at their height at that time. The development of the art of printing brought about a major change in the world of writing. The spread of knowledge and scientific discoveries promoted scientific development and became a milestone in the historical progress towards modern times.
Source: http://www.mainz.de/gutenberg/english/bibel.htm
Austria 1 Copy
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek
Vienna Austria
1 copy
Hubay #27
Perfect Copy on Paper , 2 volumes
Bound in red morocco.
Acquired early 19th Century, and formerly in the Court Library of Emperor Joseph II. One of only two copies to contain the "tabula rubricarum" (index of rubrics) on four leaves at the end. See Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich.
Belgium 1 Copy
Nouvelle Bibliothèque Publique Les Comtes de Haina
Mons, Belgium
1 copy
Hubay #1
Imperfect copy on paper, Volume 1 only. Lacks 104 leaves.
Bound in brown calfskin, blind-stamped front and back covers; five raised bands on spine.
Willed to the City of Mons in 1934 by Canon Edmond Puissant. Discovered in the Puissant Museum in Mons by Dr. Maurice A. Arnould, who became the Mons Librarian in 1950. The Antiquarian Bookman of October 20, 1956 announced this previously unrecorded copy as the 47th known Gutenberg to be discovered.
Denmark 1 Copy
The Royal Library
Copenhagen Denmark
1 copy
Hubay #12
Imperfect copy on paper, Vol II only. Lacks the first leaf.
Bound in 17th Century calf, with the device of the Gottorp Library.
Acquired in 1749.
France 4 Copies
Bibliotheque Nationale
Paris France
2 copies
Perfect copy on vellum, 2 volumes.
Formerly bound in contemporary leather over wooden boards. Around 1788 it was rebound in red morocco, with the arms of Louis XVI stamped in gilt, in four volumes.
Acquired from Dupre de Geneste of Mainz.
Hubay #15
Imperfect copy on paper, 149 leaves lacking.
Unbound. Preserved in two red morocco slipcases. Contains the earliest recorded date associated with the Gutenberg Bible. At the end of both volumes are notes inscribed by the rubricator and binder, Henricus Cremer: [Vol I...24 Aug 1456; Vol II...15 Aug 1456]
Hubay #17
Bibliotheque Mazarine
Paris France
1 copy
Hubay #16
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in 18th Century red morocco, attributed to Padeloup.
First recorded in the Mazarin Library by bibliographer Francois Guillaume de Bure in 1763. The term Mazarin Bible was applied to all copies of the 42-line Bible, after the publicity attained upon de Bure's discovery.
Bibliothèque de St-Omer
Saint-Omer France
1 copy
Hubay #18
Imperfect copy on paper, Volume I, only, lacking one leaf.
Bound in early 18th century calf.
Acquired by the Saint-Omer City Library from the Abbey of St. Bertin.
Germany 12 Copies
The Historical Library Building
Historisches Gebaeude
Goettingen Germany
1 copy
Hubay #2
Perfect copy on vellum, 2 volumes.
Bound in 16th Century white calf over wooden boards.
Acquired by the University Library of Goettingen in about 1810 from Wolfenbuettel Library.
Berlin State Library
Berlin Germany
1 copy
Hubay #3
Imperfect copy on vellum, 2 leaves lacking. 2 volumes.
Bound in 17th century calf.
Its presence in Berlin can be traced to 1752, but no information as to how the state acquired it.
Hochschulde und Landesbibliothek
Fulda Germany
1 copy
Hubay #4
Imperfect copy on vellum, Volume II only.
Bound in contemporary dark brown leather.
Given to Prince-Abbot Konstantin by the City of Fulda in 1723, but later returned to the State Library.
Leipzig University Library
Leipzig Germany
1 copy
Hubay #14
Imperfect copy on vellum, lacking one leaf, 4 volumes.
Bound in contemporary stamped pigskin, by Johann Fogel Erfurt.
Known to belong to the Franciscan monastery, Langensalza, Saxony in 1461. Unknown date of acquisition by University Library of Leipzig.
University Library Frankfurt am Main
Frankfurt am Main Germany
1 copy
Hubay #6
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Rebound before 1950 in half vellum, gilt, with eagle of Frankfurt.
Acquired by Frankfurt City Library in 1803 from the Church of the College of St. Leonhard in Frankfurt.
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Bavarian State Library
Munich Germany
1 copy
Hubay #5
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in 18th century calf. Has the tabula rubricarum (index of rubrics) printed on 4 leaves at the end. Occurs in only one other copy at the National Bibliothek, Vienna.
Acquired in 1803 from the Benedictine Monastery at Andechs, near Munich.
Stadtbibliothek or Hofbibliothek
Aschaffenburg Germany
1 copy
Hubay #7
Imperfect copy on paper, lacking 14 leaves, 2 volumes.
Bound in contemporary wooden boards, recovered with sheepskin.
Acquired by the Palace of Aschaffenburg in 1793 from the library of Friedrich Karl Joseph von Erthal, Elector of Mainz. Now in Hofbibliothek.
Gutenberg Museum
Mainz Germany
2 copies
Imperfect copy on paper, Volume II only.
Bound in early 16th century stamped leather.
Acquired by the Mainz City Library in 1925 from the library of the Count of Solms-Laubach. Solms-Laubach copy still possessed by the Museum.
Hubay #8 or 9
Paper copy, known as the Shuckburgh copy, 2 volumes.
Acquired for $1.8 million in March, 1978; formerly owned by Arthur Houghton.
Hubay #8 or 9
Trier City Library
Trier Germany
1 copy
Hubay #11
Imperfect copy on paper, Volume I, only.
Bound in early 19th century calf.
Acquired by the Trier City Library in 1803 from a nearby Benedictine Monastery. Its sister volume (II) was purchased by an agent for Arthur A. Houghton of Queenstown, Maryland in 1937, at a Sotheby's auction in London. Cost: 8,000 pounds.
Württembergische Landesbibliothek
Stuttgart Germany
1 copy
Hubay #10
Imperfect paper copy, 2 volumes.
Bound in 19th century blue Morocco, gilt tooled. Leaf 111 of Vol II is a pen-and-ink facsimile. Sometime after 1950 this copy became the recipient of leaf 111 from the Trier-Houghton copy acquired by Scribner's, and thus became the first incomplete copy to be made complete.
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Formerly owned by NY General Theological Seminary. Acquired at Christie's Auction, April, 1978. Buyer: Bernard Breslauer. Cost: $2.2 million.
Japan 1 Copy
Keio University Library
Mita Campus
Minato-ku, Tokyo
1 copy
Hubay #45
Imperfect copy on paper, previously known as The Frere-Doheny Copy,
Volume. 1 only, 324 leaves.
Bound in contemporary calf over wooden boards.
Acquired on March 22, 1996 from the Maruzen Co. of Tokyo. Maruzen had purchased the copy at a Christie's Auction on Oct 22, 1987 for the incredible sum of $4.9 million (see ABPC). Sold at Christie's on October 22, 1987 for $4.9 million, to the Maruzen Co. of Tokyo, Japan. Acquired by Keio University Library, Tokyo, Japan on March 22, 1996.Previously owned by the Doheny Memorial Library, California, and prior to that by Sir Philip Frere of the UK.
Poland 1 Copy
Diocesan Museum
Pelplin Poland
1 copy
Hubay #28
Imperfect paper copy, 2 volumes, 1 leaf lacking.
Bound in contemporary stamped leather over wooden boards by Heinrich Coster.
Acquired by Pelplin in 1833 from the Benedictine Monastery of Loebau, West Prussia.
Portugal 1 Copy
Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal
Lisbon Portugal
1 copy
Hubay #29
Perfect paper copy, 2 volumes.
Bound 1860 in red morocco with royal arms of Portugal, gilt gauffered edges. Formerly in green morocco by Derome.
Acquired 1805 from Borel & Co. Booksellers of Lisbon. Formerly owned by Cardinal Lomeine de Brienne.
Russia 2 Copies
Lomonosow University Library
Moscow Russia
1 copy
No Hubay #
Paper copy, 2 volumes, known as the Leipzig copy.
Confiscated by the Soviet Army from Leipzig's. Universitaetsbibliothek toward the end of WWII. The USSR denied knowledge of its whereabouts.
Russian National Library
Moscow Russia
1 copy
No Hubay #
Imperfect copy on vellum
Confiscated by Soviet Army from Leipzig’s- Deutsches Museum fuer Buch und Schrift during WW II. For years, as in the case of the Lomonosow Library copy, the USSR kept silent, denied knowledge of its whereabouts.
Spain 2 Copies
Biblioteca Universitaria y Provincial
Seville Spain
1 copy
Hubay #32
Imperfect paper copy, Volume II only, New Testament, 190 leaves.
Bound in 19th Century leather.
Acquired in 1845 from Jesuit College.
Biblioteca Pública Provincial
Burgos Spain
1 copy
Hubay #31
Perfect paper copy, 2 volumes.
Bound in 16th century stamped leather over wooden boards.
Acquired from a Spanish Monastery in 1870. (Note: In 1957-58 investigation and personal inspection by bible scholar and historian Don Cleveland Norman in preparation for his 1961 Gutenberg Census publication, revealed 11 leaves missing.)
Switzerland 1 Copy
Biblioteca Bodmerica
Cologny Switzerland
1 copy
Hubay #30
Imperfect copy on paper, 2 volumes, 1 leaf lacking.
Bound in 19th century leather binding.
Sold in 1931 by the Soviet government to Maggs Brothers of London and acquired from them by Martin Bodmer Library.
United Kingdom 8 Copies
British Museum
London England
2 copies
Perfect copy on vellum, 2 volumes
Rebound about 1769 in red morocco. Originally in 3 vols.
Bequeathed to the British Museum in 1846 by Thomas Grenville.
Hubay #?
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound for King George III in blue morocco.
Transferred to British Museum in 1829.
Hubay #?
Lambeth Palace Library
London
1 copy
Hubay #20
Imperfect copy on vellum, New Testament only, 190 leaves.
Bound in brown morocco, mid-1880's.
Acquired by the Archepiscopal Library in 1610 from Archbishop Bancroft.
University Library
Cambridge England
1 copy
Hubay #22
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in calf. Gifted in 1934.
Formerly owned by A.W. Young of London who bought it from Bernard Quaritch. Quaritch bought it for 2,000 pounds in 1889 from the library of Lord Hopetoun.
Eton College Library
Windsor Berkshire England
1 copy
Hubay #23
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in contemporary pigskin over wooden boards. Blind-stamped by Johann Fogel of Erfurt...the only copy in a binding by Fogel which bears his name stamped in blind on the covers.
John Fuller of Rosehill, Sussex presented this copy to Eton in 1841.
Bodelian Library
Oxford England
1 copy
Hubay #24
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in blue morocco, gilt-tooled by Derome le Jeune with his label, dated 1785.
Purchased by Oxford in 1793 for 100 pounds, from the library of Cardinal Lomenie de Brienne.
John Rylans Library
Manchester England
1 copy
Hubay #25
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in blue morocco, gilt-tooled with the arms of Lord Spencer, stamped in blind. Binding attributed to Roger Payne.
Purchased by Spencer in 1814 for 80 pounds. In 1892 the Rylands Library acquired the Spencer Library.
National Library of Edinburgh
Edinburgh Scotland
1 copy
Hubay #26
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in russia leather, gilt tooled. Modern Scotch binding.
Presented to the library in 1781 by Daniel Stewart, Lord Provost of Edinburgh.
United States 11 Copies
The Morgan Library And Museum
New York, NY
3 copies
Imperfect copy on vellum, 2 volumes, missing 4 leaves.
Bound in brown morocco.
Sold by Edwin Tross in 1864 for 15,000 francs to an English book collector. Bought by J.P. Morgan in 1897 from Henry Sotheran of London.
Hubay #37
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in blue morocco.
Bought by Quartich for the Morgan collection in 1911 for 5,800 pounds.
Hubay #38
Imperfect copies on paper
2 vols. 130 leaves lacking. Rebound by Matthews in dark brown morocco.
Purchased by J. P. Morgan in 1899 from the Theodore Irwin library, Oswego, NY. Ownership can be traced back as far as 1565.
Hubay #44
The Library of Congress
Washington, DC
1 copy
Hubay #35
Perfect copy on vellum, known as the "Saint Blasius - Saint Paul” copy, only 3-volume copy in existence.
Bound in white calf, stamped in blind, and dated 1560. The finest copy in existence, according to the International Typographical Union.
Originally from the St. Paul Monastery, Austria, Vollbehr paid $370,000. Purchased by the LOC in 1930 as part of the Vollbehr Collection (Berlin) of 15th Century printing. 1930 cost of Vollbehr collection - $1,500,000
Cost of this copy exceeded $600,000 alone.
New York Public Library
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
New York, NY
1 copy
Hubay #42
Imperfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in old blue morocco.
First copy to come to America (1847), after purchase at a Sotheby's auction for James Lenox of New York. Newspapers of the day called the price of 500 British Pounds Sterling, "mad."
Houghton/Widener Library
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
1 copy
Hubay #40
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in red morocco by Mercier.
Presented to Harvard in 1944 by George D. Widener. It's another copy that went through Rosenbach's hands at one point.
Yale University
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
New Haven, CT
1 copy
Hubay #41
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in 18th century calf, gilt tooled.
Bought at auction in 1926 by Dr. A.S. W. Rosenbach for $106,000. Sold to Mrs. Edward Harkness who presented it to Yale University in memory of Mrs. Stephen V. Harkness.
Princeton University Library
Princeton, New Jersey
1 copy
Hubay #43
Imperfect copy on paper, 2 volumes, lacking 5 leaves.
Bound in contemporary blind-stamped leather over wooden boards.
The second copy to come to the U.S. Since 1870, it has changed hands of American owners several times. Bought by A.S.W. Rosenbach in 1924 and subsequently sold to John Schiede. From 1934-37 he found and bought 12 of 17 missing leaves.
The Lilly Library
Bloomington, Indiana
1 copy
Hubay #46
Imperfect copy on paper, known as the "Trier" copy, Volume II only, 260 of 317 leaves. This is the sister volume of the Trier copy.
Bound in brown calf over wooden boards.
Houghton gave this copy to Scribner's who sold some leaves and sections. See the NY- General Theological Seminary entry. Scribner's sold the Tirer copy to George A. Poole of Chicago. In 1953, what remained was rebound for Poole and in 1958 the volume was acquired by the Lilly Library, University of Indiana.
The Gutenberg Museum 2000 census of extant copies does not acknowledge Lilly's ownership. In August 2000 I was informed by James Canary, Lilly Library's Conservator, that his library still holds this copy; a recently purchased leaf has reduced the number of missing leaves to 11.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
San Marino, CA
1 copy
Hubay #36
Imperfect copy on vellum, 2 volumes.
Bound in contemporary pigskin over wooden boards.
Acquired by Henry E. Huntington in 1911 for $50,000 - at that time the highest price ever paid for a book. Had numerous 19th century owners and can be traced back as far as 1774.
Harry Ransom Center
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas
1 copy
Hubay #39
Perfect copy on paper, 2 volumes.
Bound in contemporary stamped leather over wooden boards.
Bought by A.S.W. Rosenbach in 1923 at a Sotheby's auction for 9,500 pounds and sold to Mr. Pforzheimer, a great book collector and bibliophile. The Ransom Center Bible is one of only five complete copies in the United States and was acquired in 1978. Out of 48 surviving copies in the world, only 23 are complete Bibles from Gutenberg's estimated printing of 150 - 180 sets. Most of the Bibles are in Europe, one is in Japan, and another is in Moscow.
Vatican City 2 Copies
Vatican Library
Vatican City
2 copies
Hubay #33
Imperfect copy on vellum, 2 volumes, 6 leaves lacking.
Bound in modern leather, blind-tooled.
Acquired by the Vatican in 1901 from the Barberini Library, which had owned it since 1837.
Vatican Library
Vatican City
2 copies
Hubay #34
Imperfect copy on paper, Volume I only, missing 9 leaves.
Bound circa 1850 in russia leather.
Acquired by the Vatican in 1921 from the library of Cavaliere Giovanni Francesco de Rossi, of Linz, near Vienna.
(Note: 1950 AB census identified this as Volume I, presumably the Old Testament. The 1957-58 census and subsequent publication by Don Cleveland Norman identifies this as Volume II, which is generally the New Testament designation.)